Tennessee

NBA Comparison: Lawrence Moten

Strengths: McRae is a tall and long wing prospect who plays a fairly unorthodox game … Stands 6’5, and has an outstanding 7’0 wingspan, and he uses it well on both ends on the floor … Good athlete with solid leaping skills and fluidity … Likes to shoot the ball, and can make shots from deep or from mid-range effectively … Showed the ability to shoot with range in college … Shows some good shot-making skills, and can hit contested jumpers at times … Has an unconventional release (puts the ball around his forehead when he shoots), but he has a very quick release and is consistent with his mechanics … Good at using screens to get shots, and only needs a little daylight to get shots off given his release and size … Probably is a more consistent mid-range player than 3-point shooter, and shows good footwork and ability to make moves to create space for himself … Can put up points in bunches … Has shown more and more confidence in himself offensively over his career … Able to hit shots off the dribble pretty well…Can finish when attacking the rim on straight-line drives, and covers a good amount of ground with his long strides … Not a selfish player, usually can find the open man when he gets extra defensive attention…Has excellent defensive potential, and already shows the ability to be a tough and active defender … His length allows him to be a factor in the passing lanes and he can smother guards with on-ball pressure … Very good shot-blocking skills for a wing … Versatile on D, could be able to defend the 3 perimeter spots in the NBA, if not at least the wing positions … Should benefit from more floor spacing and a lighter scoring load, as Tennessee was often crowded inside the arc offensively and didn’t have any real perimeter scoring options besides him in his last 2 seasons … Developed nicely after starting his career as a pretty raw prospect, could have more untapped potential despite being a 4-year player … Knows when to be vocal and knew when to try and carry his team, showed some leadership skills as a Sr.

Weaknesses: Though McRae has good height and exceptional length, he is a twig at 179 lbs and will need to get much stronger .. Has a narrow frame and thin shoulders, so it will be harder for him to put on weight without losing athleticism more so than some of the other more thin prospects ... Some real question marks about his ability to add legitimate strength .. Struggles to deal with contact…Though he is a confident shooter, his efficiency can definitely stand to improve … Didn’t really shoot the 3-ball well down the stretch last season … His shooting mechanics also need to tighten up, as his inconsistencies can likely be related to his unconventional form … Sometimes forces contested shots … Ball-handling skills need work … Doesn’t hold up that well to tight ball pressure … Not a truly good isolation player, though he at times had to look to score in these situations due to a lack of perimeter scorers around him…A big high-waisted, and can be a little stiff moving laterally … Though he has matured and become a smarter player, his feel for the game and basketball IQ can still improve … Is 23 years old, so he is older than many other prospects ...

Overall: McRae’s ability to score, mixed with his really good physical tools could make him a draft day selection … He could be a good defender in the NBA and if he gets his jumper more consistent, he will have a real good chance at a nice career for himself … Problem is, he never developed the consistency he needed with his shot in college, and he’s a pretty thin guy who doesn’t handle the ball that well and is an older prospect … Moving on from Tennessee, McRae has some of the tools to be an intriguing prospect, and could hear his name called in the 2nd round of the draft ...